Airfields Used By The RNZAF During The Pacific War, WW 2, Nissan Island, Green Islands.

Green Islands

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The Green Islands are located between Bougainville and New Ireland, approx 150 miles from Rabaul.

The Island Group form a rough circle, around the main Island, Nissan Island.

After the landings at Cape Torokina on Bougainville, the Allies sought to continue their operations in the area, as part of their advance on Rabaul, prior to launching the Admiralty Islands Campaign.

Green Islands were close enough for Fighter cover from Bougainville [mainly Torokina] while offering the prospect of projecting Allied Air and Sea power further towards Rabaul.

On 30th January 1944, a small force of 300 troops from the NZ 30th Infantry Battalion,
with US and NZ Intelligence and Communications personnel, were landed on Nissan Island, tasked with establishing the strength of the enemy stationed there.

They remained ashore for 24 hours, during which contact was made with the native population who provided intelligence, several patrols were sent out to survey the ground.

During this time there were several skirmishes with the Japanese which resulted in 4 killed and 5 wounded, before the group was withdrawn to Vella Lavella.

Code named “ Operation Square Peg”, the invasion started on 15th February, from Vella Lavella, and the Treasury Islands, the Allied forces invaded several islands including Nissan Island, and recaptured them from heavily outnumbered Japanese forces.

The main ground combat elements came from the 3 Battalions of NZ’s 14th Brigade of NZ’s 3rd Army.

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The New Zealand Army unloading on Nissan Island

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One of the NZ Tanks on Nissan Island

The Japanese aircraft tried to attack the invading force but was dealt with by the defending fighters from Torokina Airfield on Bougainville, during which Airsol [Air Command Solomon Islands Area] destroyed 12 aircraft.

The islands were declared free of Japanese troops on the 23rd February, the entire operation caused 13 killed and 26 injured.

The Seabees of the 22nd Naval Construction Regiment, commenced on the 20th February to construct an airfield, by the 6th March a 5,000 feet long x 150 feet wide runway had been constructed.

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A 6,000 feet long x 150 feet wide bomber airfield was also completed by the end of the month.

Initially, the airfields were home to the US Marines fighters and bombers, with the NZ fighters using it for refueling on operations over Rabaul.

An entire PT Boat base was also constructed, including workshops, a steel warehouse, and a T shaped pontoon, on Barahun Island.

The Guest book on the Island included such names as Lindbergh, Bob Hope, Jack Benny, Nixon, Kennedy, and Bush.

Nissan Island

[BR] = Bomber Reconnaissance
[F]= Fighter
SU = Support Unit [the ground crew that serviced the aircraft]

1 [BR] Squadron 29 October 1944 to 5 January 1945
2 [BR] Squadron January to March 1945
3 [BR] Squadron March to 5 June 1945

20 [F] Squadron 26 October to 19 November 1944
18 [F] Squadron 22 November to 11 December 1944
14 [F] Squadron 16 December 1944 to January 1945
16 [F] Squadron 21 December 1944 to February 1945
17 [F] Squadron January to March 1945
15 [F] Squadron February to April 1945
24 [F] Squadron March to May 1945
21 [F] Squadron April to May 1945

3 SU [F] 20 October 1944 to 18 May 1945
14 SU [BR] 20 October 1944 to 27 May 1945
15 SU [BR] 20 October 1944 to May 1945
30 SU [F] [renamed] December 1944 to 14 July 1945

with thanks to son-of-satire for the banner